Anita: 'Siem's A Star'

Vurnon Anita believes Newcastle United have a special talent on their hands in new signing Siem de Jong.

The pair played together in the midfield of Dutch giants Ajax between 2007 and 2012, and following de Jong's switch to Tyneside, were reunited on Saturday for pre-season fitness testing.

Anita cannot wait to link up again with his good friend - this time in the famous black and white stripes - and is convinced that de Jong will be a huge success for the Magpies.

"Siem is a very good player who I played with at every level at Ajax, from the youth teams through to the first team," Anita told nufc.co.uk.

"We also played together in the Dutch national youth teams together, so I know him very well.

"He's a great guy, a great player and we won some titles together, so I'm pleased he has joined Newcastle.

"I am sure Siem will be a success here. His style will fit the Premier League as he is strong and smart and scores goals easily. He sees the game very well.

"We missed some creativity towards the end of last season and he will provide that, but also he is smart in front of goal."

The Magpies' pre-season training got properly underway on Monday morning, and while it may be a necessary evil for some players, Anita was looking forward to the gruelling sessions and friendlies that lie in wait over the next four weeks.

"I had a nice summer. It was good to relax with my family and get some rest, but I am happy to start again now," he explained.

"Pre-season training never gets any easier - it is tough every single year. But it is all part of the job.

"I enjoy it and am really looking forward to the games starting in a couple of weeks."

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